NBC has picked up the Wonder Woman pilot from David E. Kelley. Ironically, NBC was the final network to pass on bringing back the superhero over a week ago, but that was before the new regime was officially in place in light of the impending Comcast takeover. Robert Greenblatt is now spearheading primetime as chairman. (On Thursday, head of programming Angela Bromstad announced she was leaving).

The pilot’s cost may not be a concern to Greenblatt, the wunderkind who revitalized Showtime with critical faves like Dexter and Weeds. One factor that seemed to have sunk the Wonder Woman project the first time around was the price of rebooting the series, with the studio requiring a rich license fee to bring the iconic character back to life. But then, NBC has been down this road before: It rebooted Bionic Woman. Kelley’s take incorporated the superhero’s signature lasso, cuffs, and plane in the script, and insiders said it was a serious, non-campy take on the DC Comics character. For years, various writers and producers (including Joss Whedon) have tried to bring back Wonder Woman, but the character has proved difficult to resurrect.

Kelley is already executive producing Harry’s Law for NBC, the new drama starring Kathy Bates. The pilot, like all the others ordered by NBC during the current development season, will have to pass the final smell test this spring before its ordered to series in May.

The news comes four days after the Peacock gave the David E. Kelley-produced reboot an 11th hour green light.

On the surface, McG is an obvious choice to shepherd Wonder Woman. In addition to his ties to the Charlie’s Angels movies and ABC’s in-the-works remake, the multi-hyphenate has deep roots in the TV biz. He currently serves as an executive producer on Nikita, Human Target, Supernatural and Chuck. (He also directed the Chuck pilot back in 2007.) It also helps that McG’s production company is based at Warner Bros.

Charlie Angels helmer McG is being called upon to help revive another female superhero franchise.
Sources confirm to me exclusively that McG has emerged as the odds-on favorite to direct the pilot for NBC’s much-hyped Wonder Woman remake.

If you are in the market to re-watch or watch for the first time the original Wonder Woman series with Lynda Carter, the first season is the best. Wonder Woman comes to our world from Paradise Island during World War II. The next two season take her to the 70's. Lots of campy fun, but the first season was truly a classic. Even Roy Rogers the King of the Cowboys, who was a star in those days, guest stars in one episode.

Geekscape writer Eric Diaz is possibly one of the biggest Wonder Woman fans of all time and he managed to get his hands on the script for David E. Kelley’s Pilot for NBC. Eric has written a great article on what the new Wonder Woman has going for it and what needs to change.

Former Smallville guest star/Kara Adrianne Palicki has been cast as Wonder Woman! Check it out!

NBC casts Wonder Woman! 'Friday Night Lights' star lands coveted role

Friday Night Lights star Adrianne Palicki has landed the coveted lead role in the broadcaster’s reboot of the classic 1970s series.

In addition to having won praise for her performance on FNL, Palicki looks, well… spot-on perfect for the part, yes?

Wonder Woman is being remade by Boston Legal writer David E. Kelley, who has incorporated the superhero’s signature lasso, cuffs, and plane in the script. The script is a serious, non-campy take on the DC Comics character that pays homage to TV’s original WW Lynda Carter, but it should satiate those fans of Kelley’s memorable soapbox moments his legal dramas: At one point, Diana gives a speech on Capitol Hill.

For years, various writers and producers (including Joss Whedon) have tried to bring back Wonder Woman and the character has proved difficult to resurrect. But NBC is all about taking big swings next fall under new entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt, who’s greenlit high-concept pilots such as 17th Precinct (cops solve crimes in magical world) and Playboy (lives of Playboy bunnies in the 1960s).

Palicki will star in the upcoming feature-film remake of Red Dawn, and also starred in the horror film Breaking the Girl and most recently in Fox’s short-lived series Lone Star.

Quote: NBC has decided to pass on the much publicized updated TV version of the hit 70s show Wonder Woman. The new pilot, penned by writer David E. Kelley and produced by Warner Bros. TV, starred newcomer Adrianne Palicki as Diana Prince a CEO of a major company who moonlights as crime stopping Wonder Woman. The original Wonder Woman Lynda Carter praised the choice of Palicki as the superhero saying she "looks fabulous" in the role. But that wasn't enough for bosses at NBC. Neither was the choice of big name Elizabeth Hurley to play Wonder Woman's nemesis Veronica Cale.

The pilot apparently garnished a lukewarm reaction from test groups and no one was too excited about the new costume either - which was more X Men and less USA. The wardrobe department attempted a revamp of the skin tight unitard, but that didn't seem to help.

Rival network Fox only added fuel to the fire by quipping, "The new and allegedly improved Wonder Woman (a.k.a Diana Prince) has been given a head-to-toe makeover by artist Jim Lee, replacing her signature American flag decorated briefs with skintight...pants and purging the super hero of all her trappings of Americana." The lack of patriotism in the costume was one big complaint by focus groups, but DC Comics defended the updated look saying, "The Latest evolution of Wonder Woman's iconic costume is a central part of the latest comic book storyline."

It is unclear if the pilot will make the rounds to other stations, but we would love to get a look at it and Adrianne in action in that outfit.

I wonder will Wonder Woman be picked up by CW perhaps?

Posted: 16 May 2011 18:57

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I don't know, but hopefully somebody will because I was looking forward to this show.

Posted: 16 May 2011 19:22

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They need Joss Whedon to come back to TV for this one.__________________

For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear - when you are the hammer, strike.

~Edwin Markham

Posted: 16 May 2011 20:35

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You know the main problem with Whedon is he usually takes a full season to really get into gear, and these days the networks are not patient enough to let a show build up steam. It's either a hit right out the gate, or it gets canned.

I remember watching Angel thinking it was so so, but I think it was the second season it starting getting good. By the time it was cancelled I couldn't wait every week to see the next episode.